Abstract: A container for quickly and accurately counting used surgical sponges at the conclusion of surgery having a lower half and an upper half which can be closed onto the lower half. The lower half of the container is formed with a plurality of spaced parallel walls which form a plurality of troughs to receive the used surgical sponges and alternate walls have a shorter height so that troughs on opposite sides of the alternate walls can receive either small sponges or a single large sponge. The upper half of the container has a plurality of parallel projections which are arranged to be complementary to the troughs and to extend within a portion of each trough when the upper half is closed onto the lower half.